Electric welding.



1. A. MUlR.

ELECTRIC WELDING.

APPLICATION man APR.6.1914.

@wi/tweeen J. A. MUlR.

ELECTRIC WELDING.

APPLICATION FILED APH. 6. 1914.

1,142,838. Patented June 15, i915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ff f

UNITED STATES PATENT omen. JAMES A. MUIR, 0F CININNATI, OHIO, AASSIGNOB- T0 THE TOLEDO ELEOTRIC WELDEB A COIIPANY, A COBIORATION OF OHIO.

nLEcTBIcAWELDING.

y Patented Jane 15,` 19175.

Appunti@ mea April s, 1914.. serial ne. szavso'.

T0 all whomyz't may concern.'

zen of the United States, residing at Cin-v cinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Welding, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in electric welding, and particularly to an improved method and apparatus whereby the welding is accomplished under different conditions and arrangement of the apparatus to suit the particular character of the work foperated upon, and wherein the method and controlling a paratus is adapted for the convenience o the operatorV under the different conditions. y

In a patent granted to R. C. Pierce, May 27, 1913, No. 1,062,728, there is disclosed apparatus whereby a predetermined pressure is applied tothe work, after which current is applied automatically for welding the parts and upon increased application of pressure current isautomatically cut oi; butin other cases the work to beperformed by the same machine may require increased pressure beyond the predetermined amount efore it is desirable to apply the current,I

and in other cases it may be"desirable to apply current for welding before the predetermined pressure. for which the machine is set is exerted. i

One object ofiny invention is to provide a method of control and improved apparatus whereby the same machine may be adapted for and utilized under the different work conditions as they may arise and to secure this result by apparatus simple in construction, andv which may be .conveniently and easily adapted for the different conditions required;

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby a machine may be quickly and conveniently controlled electrically under the various conditions of oper-A ation automatically froma plurality ofdifferent points conveniently located and controlled either manually under conditions as desired by the operator or controlled automatically under predeterminedl conditions and also secure simplicity in such control by utilization `of a single switch only for the control of the welding'current.

Another object of my invention is lto. se-

4by a clamping rin cure any desired mode of operation as above described either by hand onfoot power.

Other objects and advantages of my nvention' will be understood by those skilled in4 the art from the following description and accompanying drawings of one form of my invention. Y

Figure l is a side view, partly broken away of a machine embodying my invention and also illustrating diagrammatically the electric connections in general. Fig. 2 is a detail partly in section illustrating the construction of a portion of the head of the machine; Fig. 3 is a side view of the controlling lever partly in section; and Fig. 4lv is a plan view of a portion of the automatic switch mounted on the controlling lever.

Referring to Fig. 1, the main frame is indicated at 1 having the upper horn 2 for supporting and guiding the movable vertical electrode 3, and having the lower horn Il for supporting the fixed electrode 5. Within the frame is located the transformer 6 of any suitable construction, the secondary being shown of a single turn and having one terminal connected through iiexible leads 7 to the movable electrode 3 and the other terminal rigidly connected to the electrode 5 through the horn 4f The movable electrode 3 is secured to a vertically movable plunger 8 which is supported vin the outer frame. portion of the horn 2, the plunger 8 being connected by a swivel connection as shown in Fig. 2 to a core piece 9. A link 10 connects the piece 9 to the end of a crank lever 11, which is keyed to the shaft 12, the parts 10 and 11 forming a .toggle connection for raising and lowering, the movable electrode when the shaft 12 is turned in its bearings. The shaft 12 is mounted in a pedestal 13 which has bearing portions extending within the frame support, the pedestalbeing held-in position clearance is allowe for permitting the pedestal to be turned in its support to any desired position. y

A counter-weight 15 is secured to the 14, although sufficient shaft 12 and tends to normally -hold the movable electrode .3 in its' upper position. Fixed to the shaft 12 is an operating arm made in three sections, one portion 16 being directly fixed to the shaft 12 and another portion 17 being pivoted at 18 to the section 16. The frame portion of the section 16 is tion oiv the frame.

of inverted U-shape and the section 17 is partially located within this U-shaped por- On each side ofthe frame of the section 16 is a depending late 19 in the lower portions of which is pivotally mounted a' clamp 20 having a handle 20. This clamp is in vertical position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings and mechanically locks the two sections 16 and i. 17 together, as well shown in Fig. 3. When being adjustable for adaptation to di erent This consists of two insulate section 16.

character of work operated upon. vA nut 24 is also adjustable on the bolt 21 for adjustment of the machine and limits the seperation of the sections 16 and 17 to a predetermined amount.

An automatic switch is mounted upon the section -16 between protectin supporting arms 26, each carrying at their upperends yieldably mounted contacts 27. A movable bridging contact 28 is adapted to engage the yieldable contacts 27 and close the circuit between them. Bridging element28 is insulated upon the upper end of a pivoted arm. 29. The arm 29 is connected by two links 30 to two links 31, the lowerends of which are pivoted on the shaft 32. Two springs 33 are connected to the arm 29 at one end and to a fixed part of the frame at the other end of each spring. These springs tendto hold the switch-open normally keeping the bridging element 28 out of. contact with the contacts 27. Pivoted to the shaft 32 -between the links 31 and 30'is mounted a cylinder 34 containinga pistony 35, the upper lend of which extends through the cylmder and is notched for receiving a latch 36v pivoted on the rod 37 connecting the links 30 and 31. A rod from the piston 35 extends through the lower endof -the cylinder 34 and is connected by a link v38 'to the lower section 17, the link 38 passing freely throu h an opening in the frame of i spring 39 located between the piston 35 and the lower end of the cylinder tends to force the piston 35 outwardly so as sion 40 to be vengaged by the latch 36. An exten- 1 have its lower end engage the iframe of the f section 17 of the lever, beingpivoted to the plates 25.

`contact43 will be force rom the cylinder 34 is adapted to 22 and the end of the section 17. The

spring 23 tends to hold the sections 17 and 1 together in the same-manner that the s ring 23 tends to hold the sections 16 and 1 together, the tension of the spring in each Vcase being adjustable for adaptation to the character ofthe work operated upon. An adjustable nutfr 24 is located upon the bolt 21 for limiting the separation of the sections 17 and 17 to a predetermined amount. This nut 24 vmay be used for clamping the sections 17, 17 rigidly together by adjusting it to the top of the section 17, but if desired special means for locking the sections 17 and 17 together may be used, such as the clamp 20 which locks -thesections 16 and 17 together when desired.

41 lwhich in' turn Supports a yieldably mounted contact 42, the support for this contactV being insulated from the support 41. A movable contact 43 adapted to engage the contact 42, is supported by and insulated from anfarm 44 pivoted to the section 17 at 45 and having a' lower extension to the end of which is pivotally connected a rod 46, which extends out throu h the handle 47 of section 17 and to the ger button 48. It is obvious that when the^knob or button 48 is pressed inwardly b, the operator, the

against the pressure of the spring 49, which normally holds the switch open and will be caused to engage the contact 42 and so close a circuit between' them. i u

U on' the horn 2, la rod 49 is adjustably 'ixe carrying a small frame 5l upon which indicated in the drawing. The arrangement is similar to the mounting of contact 42. Contact 53 is insulatedB from and carried at the upper end of an arm 54, the arm 54 being pivoted on the frame 51 and having a lower extension to the lower end of which is pivotally connected a push-rod 55 extending toward the front of the machine through the frame 51 and having an operating finger button or knob 56 at its outer end. The arrangement is generally similar to corresponding parts mounted upon the outer-end of the section 17" already `described and it is obvious'thatwhen'the operator pushes the knob 56 inwardly, the contact 53 will engage tlie contact 52 and close the circuit between t em.

Upon the lower surface ofthe arm 17 is 130 mounted an insulated bracket, which supports a yieldable contact 42 adapted to engage an insulated fixed contact 43 mounted upon the. lower portion ofthe section 17 so I that when the section 17 is moved downwardly on its pivot relatively to the section 17, connection is closed between the contacts 42 and 43.l Upon the side of the outer end. of the section 17 is mounted a manual knifeblade switch 80 shown in Fig. 1 as movable sidewise for clearness in showing the conf nections. f

llie mains 57 are adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current for supplying energy to the transformer which in turn furnishes the welding current from its secondary to the .electrodes of the machine.

Between the source of energy and the conits core 59, the lower end of which carries with relation to all` of the other threetwo insulated bridging elements adapted to engage the fixed contacts above them when the core 59 is raised and soclosevthe circuit to the primary of the transformer. The operating coil 58 of, the automatic switch has one lead 61 extending to a suit,- able source of energy and the other lead 62 from the coil together with a lead 63 from the source extend to `the above described switches, each of theseI switches 'being connected in parallel to these leads, excepting the switch made up of the contacts 42 and 43, which switch when closed is in series mounted on section 17 and the manually operated switch mounted on the horn 2 vof the machine in parallel,'the circuit from each of these three switches when closed passing'to the lead 62 which extends to thecontrolling coil 58 of the mainJ switch. vWhen the switch comprising the contacts 42 and 43 or the switch 80 is` closed, then the closure of any one of the remaining three controlling-switches will close the cir-- cuit through the controlling coil 58 and thereby cause the closure of they main switch. The opening of the switch having contacts 42"., 43 when switch 80 is pen will cause .the opening ofr the circuit through the. con-` closed and so cause the opening ofthe main switch. If the switchv having contacts 42',

' 43 or the switch 80 remain closed, then if the remaining three controlling switches be in .open circuit position, the circuit through the coil 58 will be broken and the main4 switch open.

In some cases where the voltage of the energy supplied to the transformer is comparatively low, the leads 61 andl 63 may be connected directly to the source of the welding energy, and in other cases it may be desirable to connect the leads 61, -63 to mains of lower voltage than that applied to the welding transformer.

As above stated, the welding machine may be operated by hand, but the machine isalso adapted to be operated by foot. For 'this purpose there is shown a foot lever 64, pivoted at 65 and having an extended portion 66, which may be weighted as shown, if desired. A link 67 is connected to a portion 66 of the foot lever and to one end of another lever 68 pivoted at 69. A rod 70 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever 68 and is provided at its upper end with a clamp 71 adapted to be clamped about and engage a recessed portion 72 at the outer end of the handle of the hand-lever.

In operation, for certain classes of work,

the handle 20 will be moved to a positionl ioo' will be moved to closed position. Theten- 7 sion of the spring 23 will be adjusted to suit the pressure required upon the work between the electrodes of the machine and if the` operator desires to work the machine by hand, assuming the work to be placed between vthe electrodes, the operator will pull down on the handle of the section 17 This separates the sections 16 and 17 against the pressure of the spring 23. In the separation of the two sections 16 and 17, the link 38 will tend to draw the piston 35 against the pressure of a spring 39, but the relative tension'oi'4 the springs 39 and 33 are such that during the initial separation of the sections the cylinder 34 will be turned upon its pivot` until `the extension 40 approaches the frame of the section 16, -`lthus causing the bridging element 28 to engage the contacts 27 and so close the circuit through the controlling coil 58 of the automatic switch. The excitation of this coil by closure of the main switch,A

1 noted that the weldingcurrent is thus supplied vto, the work only when the pressure exerted between the electrodes through the operating levers has reached a 'predetermined amount, at which time the 'automatic tensionv strikes against the frame of the section 16, next causes-the piston 35 to be drawn withinthe cylinder 34 againstthe pressure of the spring 39, and so releases the latch 36, which action permits the springs 33 to separate the bridging element 28 from its contacts and so open the circuit of the controlling coil 58, and cut off the welding current by the automatic opening of the main switch;` The welding is then completed and when it is desired to make an other similar weld the operator releases the handle 47 and the spring 23'causes the two sections of the operating lever to be brought together in position for they next operation. The union of the two sections of the operating lever of course causes the cylinder 34 to be rotated to the left upon its pivot when the latch 36 will again engagev the notch in the piston 35 in preparation for the next operation.

In some classes of work it will be desired to put the control of the pressure exerted between the electrodes and the time of applying the welding current within the control of the operator. 4In such a case the handlev 20 willbe moved to the position shown in `the drawings so as to securely lock together the two sections v16 and 17 of the operating lever. This of course will prevent the operation of the automaticswitch carried by the section 16. The nut 24 will be moved up wardly on the bolt 21 to a position that will y'permit a predetermined 'maximum amount handle 47 will then cause the sections 16 andA the work may now be exerted by the operof separation between the sections 17 and .17 when the handle is pulled downwardly.

'1 "he switch 80 will b e thrown to open position. Under such circumstances, assuming the work to be in place between the electrodes, the operator will pull down upon the handle 47, andby reason of its freedom of movement relatively tothe section 17, the contact 42 will be brought in engagement with the contact 43,but this does not closethe circuit through'the controlling coil 58, Continued downward movement of the 17 to-be moved as a unit and cause the electrodes to be brought against the work 'to be operated upon. Any desired pressurev upon ator. .When the desired pressure upon the work 1s obtained, the operator will press the button'48'which will close the contacts 42, '43, which by reason of the contacts 42, 43',

being closed, will complete the circuit through the controlling coil 58 and ythereby close the main automatic switch for supply ing the welding current. As soon as the weld is completed and. the handle "47 released, the section 17 will be drawn by the springs 23 against the section 17 which action opens the circuit between contacts 42 and 43. This results in automatically opening the circuit through the controlling coil 58and so automatically opens the main automatic switch even though the operator still keeps the contacts 42, 43 closed-by pressing upon the button 48. It is therefore seen that the automatic operation of the contacts 42 43' results in automatically cutting oil" the welding current as soon as or even before pressure upon the work ceases. It is also apparent that when the switch 80 is open the welding current cannot be passed through the electrodesv of the machine un.

less thehandle 47 is depressed relatively to the section 17 of the operating lever. rFhis prevents improper application of welding current by the-operator and also insures a prompt cutting oil of the welding current before or at the time the pressure exerted by the electrodes is released.

- Ofcourse the tension of the spring 23 may be adjusted to suit special requirements and in some cases it mayfbe desirable to adjust the tension of this spring to insure the application of sufficient pressure upon '-thel work by the movement of the operating lever as a whole before the contact 42 is brought into engagement with the contact 43. such case even though the operator should hold the contact 43 in engagement with contact 42, the welding current would not be cured-.by means of a clamp 71 to the outer end 'of the handle 47 in the recess 72. If the work is of a character as to require the carrying out of a series of voperations in which the pressure is tb be-applied to a predetermined amount, at which time the welding current is to be applied, the handle 20 will be moved to unlockt'he two sections 16, 17, and the nut 24 will be moved to lock lever sections 17 and 1 7 together and the switch 8O will be closed. The operation of the automatic switch lcarried upon thel han' dle lever and other parts of'fthe apparatus will then be substantially the same as above described, when the foot lever'64 is depressed. Y

If the nature of the work is vsuch as to make it desirable to put the control` of the 1 pressure and the timeof application of the welding current within the'controlof the The nut 24: will be moved to a position upon the bolt 21 which will allow a predetermined separation of the` lever sections 17 and 17 and the switch 80 will be opened. After the' Work is in place .the operator will depress foot lever 64 to cause the pressure exerted upon the work to be the amount desired for the Welding, and the operator will then push the button 56 inwardly and close contacts 52, 53, which will cause the excitation of the controlling coil 58 and the clos.- ing of the main switclrfor applying the welding current, the contact 42 having been brought against contact 43 previously by reason of relative movement between the vsections 17 r and 17. When the weld is complete, the release of the foot lever will permit section 17 to be forced against section 17 and so separate the contacts 42, 43 which will result 1n cutting oif the welding current, even though the operator might inadvertently continue to press upon the button 56. 'Ihis operation is similar to the correspondlng operation above described and the tension of the spring 23 may be adjusted Having thus described my invention, what' I declare as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an electric weldin machine, an automatic switch for control ing the supply of welding current, an operating lever for the'machine, automatic means functionally related to said lever for controlling the clofor operating the machine by foot, and ad- Y' ditional means for controlling the closure of said automatic switch when the machine is A operated by foot. v v

4. In an electric Welding machine, the combination of an operating lever, means controlled by the movementbf said lever for automatically controlling the welding current, means for rendering said control ineffective, and additional means forvcontrolling the welding current at the will of the operator.

5. In an electric welding machine, a main switch for'supplying the welding current, electromagnetlc means for operating said switch, means for applying pressurev upon the Work between the electrodes, and automatic controlling means controlling said electromagnetic means and controlled by said means for applyingpressure for insuring the interruption of vthe welding current pressure. f

6. In an electric weldin machine, an operating element for contro ling the pressure exerted upo'n the work by the electrodes of Aat said main switch upon release-.of said the.mach1ne, a main switch for supplying i the welding current, electromagnetic means for operating said switch, and means coni trolled by said element and controllingl said electromagnetic means for insurlngI the interruption of the welding current at said main switch upon therelease of pressure exerted upon the work.

7 In an electric Welding machine, a switch for controlling the supply of welding current, means for exerting pressure on the work between 'the electrodes, manually controlled means for controllin the closure of said switch at the will of t eo erator, and automatic means for insuring t e opening ofsaid v switch upon the release of said ressure. 8. In an electric welding mac lne, an elelment for applying pressure upon the work between the electrodes, automatic means for applying welding current upon predetermined increase of pressure and for interrupting the welding current upon further increase. of pressure, Ieans for renderlng sure 0f said switch, and means for rendering said automatic means inefective, a control,

said automatic means ineffective. v

2. In an electric weldin combination .oi an operating lever, automatic controlling means controlled by the operation of said lever for supplying welding current, means for rendering the automatic control ineiective, andv additional'means for controlling the supply of welding current at the will of the operator.

3. In .an electric welding machineftheI combination of an automatic switch for controlling the welding current, an operatingv hand lever for the machine, Ameans for-"con-` machine, thev ,f said means being controllable by the opera` trolling the closure of said automaticy switch when saidlever isvoperated by hand, means Atr independently of the application of pressure by said element upon the work, and pro- A tective means for preventing the .supply of welding current until a predetermlne sure has been exerted upon the work.

gej

Ibetween the electrodes,ymanua 10. In an electric welding machine, an element for applying pressure upon the Work Imeans for supplying the welding current, said means being controllable by the operator independently .of the application of pressure by said element upon the work, and

automatic protective means for preventing the supply of welding current be ore`a predetermined pressure has beenl exerted upon the work and for insuring the interruption of the welding current upon the reduction of said pressure. l I y l1. In an electric welding machine, an element for exertingpressure upon the work between the electrodes, automatic controlling means for supplying and interrupting the welding current upon operation 4of said element, means for rendering said automatic means ineiiective incontrolling lthe welding current, a manual device for controlling the welding current at 'the will of the operator,

lautomatic protective means for rendering ineffective said manual device except under predetermined conditions, and means for rendering said automatic protective means ineffective while said automatic controlling means is rendered 'eiiective 12. `In an electric welding machine, an element for exerting pressure upon the ywork Vbetween the electrodes, a main switch for controlling the welding current, manually operated means for automatically controlling the closure and opening of said switch, and automatic protective means for permitting the control by'said manual means to be effectiveonly under predetermined .conditions.

13. In an electric welding machine, an operating lever for applying pressure upon the work and for automatically controlling the supply of welding current, means for rendering the Vautomatic control of the welding current by said lever ineffective, and additional manually controlled means carried by said lever for controlling the supply of welding current at the will of the operator. 14. In an electric welding machine, an operating lever for applying pressure upon the work, sald lever being in sections movable relatively to each other, automatic means for controlling the supply of welding current operated by relative movement of the sections of said lever, means for locking said sections together for rendering the operation of said controlling means by relative movement of said sections ineiective, and additional means for controlling the supply controlledl ator.

1,5. In an electric welding machine, an operating lever for applying pressure to the work, said lever being composed of sections, manually controlled means carried by said lever for controlling the supply of welding current' at the will of the operator, and means controlled by relative movement between the sections of said lever for prevent- 'ing said manually controlled means' from being effective except under proper relationship of the electrodes ofthe machine to the rent, said means comprising a manualh7 operable switch carried by said lever and a second switch in series with said first named switch, said second switch being closed and opened by relative movement between the sections of said lever.

' 18. In an electric welding machine, an operating lever for applying the-electrodes to the work, an automatic main switch controlling the supply of welding current, a master switch operated by movement of said lever, and a third switch in series with said master switch for controlling the movement of said main switch.

19. In an electric welding machine, an op- ,erating lever for applying the electrodes to the work, an automatic main switch controlling the supply of welding current, a master switch operated by movement of saidlever, and a plurality of switches controllable at a plurality of different points respectively and in series with said master switch for independently controlling said main switch.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature,` in presence of twowitnesses. v

JAS. A. MUIR Witnesses:

-' Nnn. MAGNEALE,

ANNA M. WALSH.

of welding current at the will of the operi 

